Irwin Donenfeld

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Irwin Donenfeld
Born(1926-03-01)March 1, 1926
Bronx, New York, U.S.[1]
DiedNovember 29, 2004(2004-11-29) (aged 78)
Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S.[1]
OccupationDC Comics publishing executive
Spouse(s)Arlene Levy (first marriage)
Alice Greenbaum (second marriage)
Carole Schnapp, née Liebowitz (third marriage)[2]
Children5[1]
Parent(s)Harry Donenfeld and Gussie Weinstein
AwardsInkpot Award (2001)

Irwin Donenfeld (/ˈdɒnənfɛld/;[3] March 1, 1926 – November 29, 2004[4]) was an American comic book publishing executive for DC Comics. Donenfeld co-owned the firm from 1948 to 1967,[2] holding the positions of Editorial Director (1952–1957) and Executive Vice President (1958 – c. 1968).[5] He was the son of Harry Donenfeld, co-founder of the company.

Biography

Early life and education

Donenfeld was born in the

Romanian-Jewish family.[6] A teenager when Superman and Batman debuted in 1938/1939, and son of the characters' publisher, Donenfeld often claimed he was the first kid in America to read the adventures of two of the world's most famous superheroes.[5]

Donenfeld attended New York's Columbia Grammar School. He was a notable student athlete, playing baseball and football. During World War II he served in the Air Force, where he boxed, and was covered by The Ring magazine. After college, Donenfeld attended Bates College, in Lewiston, Maine.[7]

Early career

Donenfeld joined DC (officially known by its parent company name

Jack S. Liebowitz.[2] A recent college graduate, he was already married and had a child.[1]

DC Editorial Director

Becoming the company's editorial director in 1952, in the mid-1950s, Donenfeld and publisher Liebowitz directed editor

Justice League of America (JLA), and many more superheroes, heralding what historians and fans call the Silver Age of comic books
.

DC Executive Vice President

Donenfeld became the company's executive vice president in 1958. In 1964 he gave editors

Robin), Batman gained his famous yellow chest symbol and moved from operating during the day to truly being a creature of the night.[8]

A

Saturday morning animation (Filmation created most of DC's initial cartoons) and other media. DC significantly lightened the tone of many DC comics – particularly Batman and Detective Comics – to better complement the "camp" tone of the TV series. This tone coincided with the infamous "Go-Go Checks" checkerboard cover-dress which featured a black-and-white checkerboard strip at the top of each comic, a misguided attempt by then-managing editor Donenfeld to make DC's output "stand out on the newsracks."[5]

During this period, Donenfeld perceived a trend in the industry that comics featuring a

gorilla on the cover, regardless of the context or relevance, would automatically correspond with an increase in sales for that title; he made sure that at least one DC title per month had a gorilla on the cover.[9]

In late 1966/early 1967,

Deadman) was a commercial hit, many were critical successes.[citation needed
]

During his period as Executive Vice President, Donenfeld made the decision to preserve the film negatives of the comics being published. This allowed the company to reprint many of the classic Silver Age comics in later treasury and trade paperback editions.[1]

Later career

In 1967,

National Periodical Publications (a.k.a. DC Comics), which shortly led to the ouster of Donenfeld from the company.[5] He moved to Westport, Connecticut, eventually becoming involved in the maritime
business (Coastwide Marina).

Death

Donenfeld's last few years were marred by health problems.[7] He died in 2004 of heart failure at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut.[11] He is buried in Mount Ararat Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York.

Personal life

Donenfeld was married three times.[2] His first marriage was to Arlene Levy in 1946.[12] The marriage ended in divorce in 1961.[2] His second marriage (in 1963) was to Alice Greenbaum, an attorney and divorcee.[13] Bob Kane had introduced them.[14] Their marriage ended in divorce in 1970. Donenfeld's last marriage, in 1970, was to Carole Schnapp, the niece of fellow DC co-owner Jack Liebowitz.[2] Donenfeld's sister Sonia was married for a time to American Comics Group co-owner Fred Iger. (Iger later married Irwin Donenfeld's ex-wife Arlene.)[15]

Awards

Donenfeld was the recipient of a 2001 Inkpot Award.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Beard, Jim. "Former DC Executive Vice President & Editorial Director Irwin Donenfeld Dies at 78," Comic Book Resources (Dec. 2, 2004).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Donenfeld entry, Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.
  3. ^ "Say How: D". National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  4. ^ "Newswatch: Irwin Donenfeld Dies," The Comics Journal #266 (Feb./Mar. 2005), p. 34.
  5. ^ a b c d "Irwin Donenfeld, R.I.P." by Mark Evanier, December 1, 2004. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
  6. ^ "The 13 Most Influential Jewish Creators and Execs, PART 3". 21 September 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Irwin Donenfeld, Veteran RTM Member and Comic Industry Giant, Dead at 78," Westport Now (Nov. 30, 2004). Archived 2004-12-03 at the Library of Congress Web Archives
  8. ^ Ro, Ronin. Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and the American Comic Book Revolution (Bloomsbury, 2004), pp. 89-90.
  9. ^ Interview with Donenfeld in Comic Book Artist # 5 (TwoMorrows Publishing, 1988).
  10. ^ "Contributors: Dick Giordano," The New Teen Titans Archives, Volume 1 (DC Comics, 1999).
  11. ^ Social Security Death Index, SS# 082-24-2282.
  12. ^ "Miss Arlene Levy Married". The New York Times. July 22, 1946. p. 34.
  13. ^ "Mrs. Alice Greenbaum Wed to Irwin Donenfeld". The New York Times. April 8, 1963. p. 33.
  14. ^ Donenfeld's Comics: A Talk with Irwin Donenfeld, 1960s DC Editorial Director, in Comic Book Artist Collection, Volume 2; by Jon B. Cooke; published 2002 by TwoMorrows Publishing
  15. ^ Sonia Donenfeld entry, Who's Who of American Comic Books, 1928–1999.
  16. ^ Inkpot Award
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